While there were a few positives in today's games, the "incredible" (and completely unanticipated, at least to me) success of Cam Newton in his NFL debut will remind us of Tiger Woods fever at its apex. It's going to be impossible to watch ESPN now, perhaps for the rest of this season. They will reference this game forever, no matter how poorly Newton plays (assuming he ever does play poorly). This game assures him of at least a decade as an uncontested starting QB. HOW did that happen? I watched some of the game (have DeAngelo in two fantasy leagues) and Newton passed at will, even though they didn't have a running game.
I fear Hillis is going to be in for a long year. Not only is he getting less touches, the new coaching staff is even more absurd in how they use him. They typically either run him straight ahead into a blubbery mass of sumos, or run him towards the much weaker right side of the line. Why no power sweeps to the left? Why no well designed runs off All-Pro left tackle Joe Thomas? Why do none of the screen passes find him wide open, like the fat turd Ray Rice always is? The tendency towards rotating Hardesty in too often was troubling, too. Mark my words- one big run, or even one halfway decent game, and the fans will be calling for him to start. And yes, the Evan Moore situation is ridiculous. The best WR on the team, continues to waste away as a backup TE to veteran hands of stoner Ben Watson. If I was an NFL coach, who had no legitimate WRs, and my biggest playmaker outside of Hillis was a former WR switched to TE, how would I resolve that issue? Yeah, I guess that's why I'm not an NFL coach.
It was gratifying to see the Steelers lose, but the Ravens aren't that much better. It was great to see Tampa Bay lose, but outside of Stafford and their backup TE Sheffler, the Lions are quite black. Btw, did you see that human china doll Stafford almost injured himself again? He threw a short TD pass, and without anyone touching him, appeared to do something to his leg, limping off the field. He's a great talent, but his propensity for injuries reminds me of Chris Chandler. And the Seahawks losing was nice, but again the 49ers are not really much better.
It will be interesting to see if Jeff Maehl is the WR who steps into the Texans rotation now that Walter is out. If not, it's just another case of blatant discrimination. And how good must Sanzenbacher be to actually get to catch a pass in a regular season game for Lovie's team? Too bad about Amendola- was poised for a big season, but once again too many of the rare white WRs who are allowed to play get injured and are forgotten. I hope I'm wrong, but if he's out for a long time, I predict it will be very hard for him to get back into any regular rotation. And where was Riley Cooper? You know, the guy even rotoworld and other fantasy sites were talking up as a sleeper? if Jason Avant being ahead of a phenomenal athlete like Cooper doesn't prove the existence of the Caste System, then nothing ever will.
If Shanahan can turn the Redskins around with Grossman or Beck at QB, Hightower at RB and Gaffney and Anthony Armstrong at WR, then he deserves to be called a genius. The DWFs love to pick on Doughty. It will be interesting to see how they react to his strong game. My guess is they'll ignore that and demand he be benched once the "real" athlete is able to play.
The Colts are pitiful to watch. And I will say it again- Pierre Garcon is perhaps the worst starting NFL WR I have ever seen. The team continues to pepper him with uncaught targets, meanwhile leaving one of the most talented wideouts in the league, Austin Collie, to fight for scraps. And if today's game was any indication, Dallas Clark might as well retire, or at least wait for Manning to come back. They basically used him to try and block Mario Williams for most of the game. Brilliant game plan, huh?
Let's hope that the Patriots utilize their white talent (Welker, Woodhead, Gronkowski) tomorrow night, and not try to force the ball to Ocho and Branch. With the Colts looking so bad, the Pats are clearly the offense to root for.
Okay, enough ranting.